A Very Early Look At The Cartier Tank MC Replica Watch

Cartier has made a lot of Cartier Tank MC Replica Watch since way back in 1918, but they typically housed externally sourced movements. Back then, it’s just what was done. Whether they were coming from JLC, EWC, Piaget, AP, or ETA, the design of the Tank was undeniably elegant. Last year, Cartier introduced the Tank Anglaise with MC movement, but what you’re looking at here will be the backbone of the Tank collection.

These Cartier Tank Replica Watch won’t officially launch until September. And they were not shown in January at SIHH. Which means last night, when we showed up at a special press preview for the brand new Tank from Cartier, we were some of the first to see it. And by association, now you’re some of the first to see it here, on the ‘Dink.

Here is the scoop on the new Tank with manufacture movement – the Tank MC.

The Tank MC isn’t a re-make, or a tribute to an earlier model – this is a modern tank in a modern size, and a modern movement inside. Inside the 44 x 34mm case (sounds larger than it is) is Cartier’s excellent caliber 1904. You see a cut seconds sub-dial at six and a date window at 3, just like you’ll find on the round Calibre de Cartier.

The dial work is excellent (as always) and the watch has a great heft on the wrist. As I mentioned earlier, this is a new model for a new type of Tank buyer. It isn’t super thin and it isn’t manually wound like some of us purists like our Tanks, but it is undeniablyCartier Replica Watch, identifiable from across the room (though, if you like the sounds of that, check out the XL Slimline).

The watch is slightly curved to fit the wrist, so the larger case size is not an issue at all. You can see it above on my wrist last night. Cartier is also having some fun and offering the Tank MC on a host of different colored straps. This is a small detail, but I love it. You know how much I believe in the ability to change straps, and it’s cool to see Cartier adopt the same attitude.

You can see the finished self-winding movement here, and I like how they’ve gone ahead and put Geneva strips on the plate surrounding the round movement.

Now on the the nitty gritty. The new Cartier Tank MC with in-house movement will be available only in stainless steel and rose gold. In steel, it will retail for a very fair price of $6,600. In gold, expect to pay in the mid-20s. There are a host of different dial and strap options (you can see many below) and as mentioned above, this watch has not officially launched yet so there is little else you can read about it. The Tank MC is not supposed to hit stores until September or so, but we have it on good authority that if you were to go in and ask someone at Cartier, they might have a few to show and maybe even to sell before the Fall 2013 launch. We encourage you to try your luck to be one of the first to own this new classic.

Check out all the (poorly lit) photos of the brand new Cartier Tank MC here: